It’s time for NBA All-Star rosters selection. But Trae Young found himself at the center of the controversy after being left off the reserves list. LaMelo Ball also took a hit despite leading fan voting among guards in the East. With the starters already locked in, the latest Inside the NBA episode had Shaquille O’Neal and the crew weighing in on the snubs, and they didn’t hold back.

Ernie Johnson kicked off the discussion with a breakdown of the voting. “So he [Trae Young] didn’t make it. I was looking at Tyrese Maxey… Those two. Well, obviously the fans had LaMelo Ball number one,” he noted. Johnson highlighted the gap in voting, explaining, “He [Trae Young] was having a terrific year. And the players had him number three. The media had him number seven. And he doesn’t make the cut as far as the coaches go.”

Shaq shares Johnson’s sentiments. But he is also aware of the harsh reality. “It’s going to be like that every year. Somebody.” He then doubled down, adding, “No, those are three names that definitely deserve to be on the team. But this is the way the cookie crumbles sometimes, Ernie.”

Charles Barkley also echoed the frustration. “I’m a little shocked Trae Young didn’t make the All-Star. He’s played really good. Probably, in my opinion, his best year.”

And the stats back him up—Young is putting up 22.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game while shooting 40.2% from the field. For a player leading one of the league’s most dynamic offenses, the exclusion felt like a major oversight.

And then there’s LaMelo Ball and Tyrese Maxey, both making a strong case with their performances this season. Ball is averaging 28.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while shooting 41.9% from the field. Maxey isn’t far behind, putting up 27.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists on 43.8% shooting.

With those numbers, all three had every reason to expect a spot. But now, as Shaq suggested, their next move is clear—prove the voters wrong.

Shaq wants them to prove the doubters wrong

It’s one thing to get snubbed from the All-Star roster. It’s another to prove the voters made a mistake. But according to Shaquille O’Neal, Trae Young didn’t exactly do that. In the Hawks’ matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Young had a quiet first half, putting up 13 points on 4-for-10 shooting, with just two assists. For someone looking to make a statement, his performance didn’t scream urgency.

Shaq expected more fire from Young after the snub. “We thought he would come on with a little more ferocity, but I think he’s taking this like a regular game,” he told Ernie Johnson during TNT’s American Express Halftime Report on January 30.

He didn’t stop there, adding, “When you feel like you’re snubbed, that’s when you come out chucking. You come out with a ferocity, let all the voters and all the coaches know how you made a mistake.”

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O’Neal doubled down on his take, saying, “I think he just took that as a regular game. I would have loved to see him come out with that ferocity to let everybody know that, ‘Hey, you made a mistake.’” Clearly, Shaq wanted to see more urgency, more energy—something to silence the doubters.

By the final buzzer, the Hawks had suffered a brutal 137-115 loss. Young finished with 15 points and 10 assists in 32 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to impress Shaq. He’s made it clear—if Young and other snubbed players want respect, they need to demand it with their play.